What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientMaltodextrin
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientTaurine
BufferingBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningIsomalt
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC9-12 Alkane
SolventDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Glyceryl Behenate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Octastearate
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Chloride
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Lecithin
EmollientCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Taurine, Bacillus Ferment, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Isomalt, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C9-12 Alkane, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Glyceryl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate, Sodium Phytate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Chloride, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Lecithin, Cyanocobalamin, Tin Oxide, CI 77491, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientBoron Nitride
AbsorbentC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Sterols
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-29
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingArginine
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantBoswellia Serrata Gum
MaskingSaccharomyces/Copper Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Iron Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment
Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin ConditioningPCA
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingCholesterol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingBehenic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Boron Nitride, C10-18 Triglycerides, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Punica Granatum Sterols, Ceramide EOP, Oligopeptide-1, Tripeptide-29, Bisabolol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Arginine, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Boswellia Serrata Gum, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, PCA, Citric Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycine, Alanine, Micrococcus Lysate, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Serine, Valine, Cholesterol, Sodium Benzoate, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Potassium Sorbate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Behenic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isostearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Aspartic Acid, Maltodextrin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water